Acad Med. 2014 Jun 20. [Epub ahead of print]

Honoring Those Who Have Served: How Can Health Professionals Provide Optimal Care for Members of the Military, Veterans, and Their Families?

Lee J1, Sanders KM, Cox M.

Author information

• 1Dr. Lee is deputy secretary of health and human resources, Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, and was director, Office of Community Engagement, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, at the time this was written. Dr. Sanders is acting chief academic affiliations officer, Office of Academic Affiliations, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, and was deputy chief, Office of Academic Affiliations, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, at the time this was written. Dr. Cox is adjunct professor of medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was chief academic affiliations officer, Office of Academic Affiliations, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, at the time this was written.

Abstract

With over one million service members separating from the military over the next several years, it seems prudent to ask whether U.S. health care professionals and systems of care are prepared to evaluate and treat the obvious and more subtle injuries ascribed to military deployment and combat. The authors suggest that several systemic interventions-adding military health history sections to electronic health records, history and physical diagnosis textbooks, and licensing exams while also ensuring that this content is adequately covered in undergraduate and graduate health professional training-will enable all health care professionals to provide service members and veterans with the high-quality care that they deserve. The authors also highlight the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' recent innovations in education and care delivery, which are enhancing the education of thousands of students and residents, who will be better prepared to care for veterans after receiving this training.